New York is the media capital of the world and that pressure is enough to crack pipes. Every year, we see superstars chewed up and spit out across the sports landscape — most specifically with the New York Yankees and New York Giants.
A certain type of mentality is required to succeed here and not everyone has it.
That’s something Giants general manager Joe Schoen intends to keep in mind when evaluating 2024 NFL draft prospects, particularly are it relates to quarterbacks.
“There’s always risk,” Schoen said of selecting a first-round QB. “Look at the past however many years of top 10 quarterbacks. I just went through the 2018 Draft and how many of those guys are starters, how many are with different teams? Some are out of the league that were taken in the first round from that draft.
“It’s not a position you can just evaluate on film, I don’t believe. You’ve got to get with these kids, you’ve got to meet with them, you’ve got to get around them, you’ve got to put them on the board. Can they learn? Can they process information? You’ve got to talk to the people, especially in this market. Bringing a quarterback into this market, I mean, it’s not for everybody. Not everybody can handle it.”
One of the top prospects in the country, quarterback Caleb Williams, has been the center of attention this season for how he’s conducted himself after losses. He’s emotional and that bleeds over into the postgame, where he’s, at times, refused to speak with reporters.
That’s not something that flies in New York and would only make the pressure worse.
The Big Apple is a notoriously difficult place to play and factoring that in before investing heavily into a young rookie is important. Some fans may not agree with it, but Schoen is correct in that assessment.
